Convertible bathtub appliance



Nov. 7, 1950 R. GRAVES 2,528,825

CONVERTIBLE BATH TUB APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 12, 1946 INVENTOR FEBELZ'HJmL/55 www amm/EY Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,528,825 CONVERTIBLE BATHTUB APPLIANCE yRebecca Graves, Spokane,` Wash.Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,258

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-168) My present invention relates to an improvedconvertible bath tub appliance of the general type used in bathingbabies and having a cradle portion in which the baby may be immersedwith the head above the water line in the conventional bath tub, and -astretcher which may be extended on the frame to provide a support forthe baby after the bath and during the drying and powdering operations.

The invention also includes novel and unique arrangements for supportingthe various structures and means permitting the folding of the legs ofthe appliance for ease of storing.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode Ihave thus far devised, but it will be understood that various changesand alterations may be made in the exemplified structure within thescope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View showing the invention with the cradle portion insuspended position and having the table portion secured at one end outof the way.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the frame locked in a standing position shownwithout a cradle and table top and having a tray supported at the endthereof.

Fig. 3 is a section taken through a tub showing the stretcher in crosssection and showing the device hanging from a towel rack when not inuse.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the locking member.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of one end taken on line 5-5 o'fFig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I employ a rectangular frame of suitablematerial and including parallel side bars 2 and 4, and the ends of thesebars are secured in transversely arranged bores in a, pair of end barsor cross bars 6 and 8. On the under side of each of the end bars at I 0,a complementary bar I2 is hinged, and a pair of legs I4, having pads orfeet I6 for engagement with the bottom of the tub T, is fastened to anddepends from the hinge bar, so that the two pairs of legs may be foldedinto dotted line position of Fig. 5, for storage purposes. It will beseen that the hinges i0 are attached to the under faces of the fixedbars, and to the inner sides of the hinged bars along their lowerportions, so that the upper horizontal portions of the hinge barscontact the lower horizontal portion -of the xed bars when the frame issupported on the four legs.

This relationship between the pairs of fixed bars and the pairs ofhinged bars braces the frame, and provides an exterior angular groove ateach end of the frame in which a base block I8 is located and attachedon the outer face of each of the fixed end bars B and 8, and avertically slidable snap fastener, of spring metal, as 20 is mounted oneach brace block for retaining a hinge bar in upright position.

The rectangular fasteners 20 are each provided with an upperhandle-flange 22, and a horizontal rib 24 for enhancing the resiliencyof the fastener, and two spaced vertical slots 26 in the upper portion`of the fastener coact with headed pins, screws, or nails 28 secured inthe base block. In the position of Fig. 5 the fasteners 20 coact withthe xed end bars to retain the hinged bars and legs in upright position,and the fasteners may .be lifted from contact with the hinge bars toallow folding of the legs. Thus, the legs may be folded into parallelismwith the side bars and the appliance may then be suspended from asuitable support as a towel rack 30 with the frame indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 3, a cradle 32 of suitable flexible material is equippedwith tabs or straps 34 having rings 36 slidably mounted on the side bars2 and 4, and the cradle is preferably suspended in position so that-thehead end will be higher than its foot end. When desired the flexiblecradle may be collapsed and folded by sliding the rings 36 to one end ofthe frame, and ar flexible stretcher 38 may be substituted for use.

'Ihe stretcher is equipped with tabs or straps 40, and slide rings 42 onthe side bars, and for compacting the stretcher when out of use, one endof the stretcher is equipped with a strap 44 and attaching loop 46 fordetachably fastening the folded stretcher on a pin 50 fixed to end bar6, which performs a function similar to the pin 48 on bar 8 to which thecradle may be attached in collapsed and folded position.

For convenience in the process of bathing a detachable soap tray 52having depending and supporting legs 54 is provided, and the lower endsof these legs or pins are detachably inserted in complementary socketsor holes in the end bar 8.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: Y.

1. In the bath tub appliance described, the combination with arectangular frame including a pair of fixed end bars, and an exteriorhorizontal base block mounted along the upper portion of each end bar,of a pair of foldable bars each having a pair of xed legs, hingesuniting the lower edges of the xed bars with the lower inner sideportions of the foldable bars, and detachable fastening means coactingwith the outer sides of the blocks and the foldable bars for retainingthe latter bars in fixed position.

2. In the bath tub appliance described, the combination with a xed endbar and a foldable hinged bar forming an upper exterior groove, and apair of legs depending fromthe hinged bars, of a base block mountedinthe groove on the Iouter side of'the fixed bar, spaced retaining andhead pins mounted on the base block, and

4 Y a slotted and vertically slidable spring fastener mounted onV thepins in frictional engagement with the outer side of the hinged bar.

REBECCA GRAVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 654,165 L'epore July 24, 19001,501,833 Amsel July 15, 1924 1,595,129 Wagner Aug. 10, 1926 GravesNo-v. 19, 1940

